Half to william mcmahon



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. E. MILLS.

' MONOOYGLE. I No. 312,147. Patented Feb. 10,1885.

WITNESSES: HLVBNTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

F. E. MILLS.

MONOGYGLE. N0. 312.147. Patented Feb. 10, 1885.

WITNBSSg INVENTOR W ZW 5? m ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. Flmlu-Lnm n mn Washin ton. n.0,

ilrvirnn Srnrrs ATFNT FRAK 01S E. MILLS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF O'NE- HALF TO VILLIAM MOMAHON, 0F SAME PLACE.

MONOCYCLE.

EPECIFICATION forning part of Letters Patent No. 312,147, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filld November 21, 1584.

In all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FRANCIS E. MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Monocycles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in monocycles or one-wheeled velocipedes, and is designed to furnish a simple and inexpensive vehicle to be driven by a person standing erect within the wheel.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, looking at right angles to the plane of the rolling rim. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, looking in the plane of the rolling rim. In this figure the crank-arms (for the purpose of more plainly showing their connections) are here represented at fullstroke, whereas when the ribs of the wheel are in a vertical position the cranks are really at half-stroke.

The dotted curved lines in Fig. 1 are designed to show the low position of one of the pedals when midway between the ends of the transverse ribs of the wheel, and its rising n p at the half stroke to clear the converging sides of the ribs when passing them.

The same letters indicate like parts in all the drawings.

A represents the rolling rim of the wheel, which should have an outside diameter about eighteen inches greater than the height of the person who is to operate it, and may be constructed in any approved manner to secure lightness combined with great rigidity.

B B are a pair of strong arched dianietrical ribs of flanged steel, transversely crossing the center of the rim on both sides, and rigidly attached thereto byriveting or soldering at the points where they meet, the two ribs being about three feet apart at the center or axis of the wheel. This one pair of ribs constitutes the sides of the wheel, leaving the balance of the roling rim entirely free from spokes or other impediments to interfere with the operator while running along on the ground in starting, mounting, or alighting from the vehicle.

(No model.)

Another object of making the sides of the wheel to consist otb'ut one pair of ribs or spokes is to enable the pedals to be placed nearer the ground, as illustrated by the dotted curve lines Z Z in Fig. 1, so that the operator may more easily mount and alight from them, and when standing erect use the stationary spindles ot' the wheel as hand-holders to support himselfby, which latter he could not do without making the rim unduly large, if it contained more than one pair of ribs. Strong spindles O G, axial to the wheel, are rigidly secured to the ribs, and extend inward till they approach within about twenty inches of each other, where the inner end of each terminatesin the arm of a crank, the two crankarms being turned in opposite directions at right angles to the ribs, as shown in Fig. 1, and each furnished with a strong crank-pin projecting inwardly. This leaves a space about eighteen inches wide in the center of the wheel for the operator to stand in while working the machine.

G G are two strong hanging bars journaled on and depending from the spindles 0 just outside of the arms of the fixed cranks, with their lower ends connected by the rectangularly-bent cross-bar L and L. In the lower ends of these two hanging bars are journaled the short axes of the revolving double crank K,.having arms of the same vertical length and stroke as those of the fixed cranks O O. This doublecrank revolves between thehanging bars G G and behind the cross-bar L, (the cross-bar L being carried forward by its two projecting side pieces, L, suiiiciently to allow the crank and its pedals to revolve without contact behind it.) The wrist-pins of the fixed cranks 0 Care connected with the wrists, respectively, of the crank K by the connecting-rods D D, which turn freely on the pins of each. On the wrists of the crank K are placed pedals for the feet of the operator, similar to those used on bicycles.

That portion of the fixed spindles O G between the hanging bars G G and the side ribs of the wheel is turned smooth and straight and covered with a loose sleeve or thimble,

and constitutes the handholders H H, which the operator grasps with his hands and supports himself by while working the vehicle,

(his arms while standing upon the pedals being in a nearly vertical position over the handholders.) The sleeve of the hand-holder may be either attached to the hanging bar G and form a prolongation of its j ournal-box, as represented in Fig. 2, or it may be entirely detached from and independent of this bar; but for the purpose of stiffening the pendent frame against lateral swaying I prefer to have the sleeves form a part of the bars G. Thehanging bars G extend upward four or five inches above the spindle O, and to the upper end of each, at right angles with the bar and directly over the hand-holder H, is attached a wrist-yoke, E, which consists of a light piece of metal or wood furnished with two prongs or horns. say, two and ahalt'inches apart and four or five inches long. These prongs are horizontal when in use, and-embrace and are in contact with the front and rear sides of the operators wrists while working the machine, and enable him to resist or check the backward and forward oscillation of the pendent frame with its crank and pedals. These wristyokes may be made stationary in the position described; but for the convenience of handling the machine while the operator is on the ground it is preferable to pivot each of them in a slot formed in the upper end of the bar G by means ofa shank on the end of theyoke, adapted to work in such slot, so that the yoke can be turned up in a vertical position while the operator is pushing or mounting the vehicle, and dropped down to its horizontal position over the hand-holders after mounting.

In starting the vehicle the operator steps underthe rolling rim just forward of the ribs, and walking or running unimpeded on the ground, with both hands grasping the handholders, pushes it forward till it has acquired sufiicient motion, then stepping upon the pedals, drops the wrist-yokes into their horizontal position against his wrists, and continues the movement by transferring his weight alternately from one pedal to the other as it descend steadying himself by the stationary handholders on the axis of the wheel. The arms of the fixed cranks, carrying the head of the connecting-rods, revolve between his own arms and his body without contact with either. and he guides the vehicle to the right or left by firmly gripping the axial bandholder and cssaying to turn his own body.

I do not confine my invention to wheels having but one rolling rim, as it is applicable also to a single wheel resting and rolling upon two rims.

What I claim is 1. In a onewheel velocipede driven by means of pedals operating upon fixed cranks inside of and axial to the wheel, a wheel hav-' ing but a single pair of transverse ribs or spokes in contact with the rolling rim, substantially as herein described, whereby the pedals can be placed nearer the ground, and the operator isenabled to walk or run upon the groundwithout impedimentin starting, mounting, and alighting from the vehicle.

2. The wrist-yokes E E, attached to the pendent bars or frame G G, and projecting over the axial hand-holders H H so as to embrace the front and rear sides of the operators wrists, substantially as described, whereby the operator is enabled to resist or check the oscillation of said hanging bars and their appendages.

3. In combination with the pendent bars, the jointed wrist-yokes E E, whereby the yokes may be turned up out of the way or dropped down into a horizontal position, as required.

4. In a one-wheel velocipede driven by means of pedals working fixed cranks within the wheel, the combination, with the fixed cranks and pedals and their connecting-rods, of the hand-holders H H, placed on the axis of the wheel between the sides of the wheel and the arms of the fixed cranks, whereby the operator obtains a firm and unyielding fulcrum by which to support his body and control the movements of the vehicle.

5. The hanging bars G, having the lateral prolongation-or extension of their journalboxes, to cover the spindles O, in order to form the hand-holders H, and also to prevent the lateral swaying of the frame.

6. In a one-wheel velocipede, the combination, with the fixed spindles and cranks G, axial hand-holders H, wrist-yokes E, and the pendent bars G, with their connecting-bar L, bent forward sufficiently to clear the revolving pedals F, of the double crank K, pivoted in the lower ends of said pendent bars, and having its wrists connected with the wristpins of the fixed cranks O, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

7. The combination, with a monocycle having a single pair of diametrical ribs, B, of a crank and pedal mechanism arranged. to descend to its position of lowest throw at points on the periphery of the rolling rim intermediate to the connections of the diametrical ribs with the rim, as and for the purpose described.

FRANCIS E. MILLS. Witnesses:

WM. A. CROUSE, JNo. F. HEMPERLY. 

